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assail

[uh-seyl]
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verb (used with object)
  1. to attack vigorously or violently; assault.
  2. to attack with arguments, criticism, ridicule, abuse, etc.: to assail one's opponent with slander.
  3. to undertake with the purpose of mastering: He assailed his studies with new determination.
  4. to impinge upon; make an impact on; beset: His mind was assailed by conflicting arguments. The light assailed their eyes.
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Origin of assail

1175–1225; Middle English asaylen < Old French asalir < Late Latin assalīre, equivalent to Latin as- as- + salīre to leap, spring
Related formsas·sail·a·ble, adjectiveas·sail·a·ble·ness, nounas·sail·er, nounas·sail·ment, nounun·as·sailed, adjectiveun·as·sail·ing, adjective

Synonyms

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2. asperse, malign.

Synonym study

1. See attack.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for assail

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • The darts of calamity may assail her on every side, but she is invulnerable to them all.

    Imogen

    William Godwin

  • At the turret we could assail Hahn, and replace him with Snap.

  • If you assail me by the brain, I may attack you at the heart!

  • Besides, the real intention was not to assail you, but the people here who admitted you.'

    Lord Kilgobbin

    Charles Lever

  • What temptations would not assail her,—by what flatteries would she not be beset!

    Sir Jasper Carew

    Charles James Lever

British Dictionary definitions for assail

assail

verb (tr)
  1. to attack violently; assault
  2. to criticize or ridicule vehemently, as in argument
  3. to beset or disturbhis mind was assailed by doubts
  4. to encounter with the intention of masteringto assail a problem; to assail a difficult mountain ridge
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Derived Formsassailable, adjectiveassailer, nounassailment, noun

Word Origin

C13: from Old French asalir, from Vulgar Latin assalīre (unattested) to leap upon, from Latin assilīre, from salīre to leap
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for assail

v.

c.1200, from Old French assalir "attack, assault, assail" (12c., Modern French assaillir), from Vulgar Latin *adsalire "to leap at," from Latin ad- "at" (see ad-) + salire "to leap" (see salient (adj.)). Figurative use from mid-14c. Related: Assailed; assailing; assailable.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper